PAR 1426 –Emissions from Metal Finishing Operations, PAR 1469 –Hexavalent Chromium Emissions from Chromium Electroplating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Operations
Summary
SCH Number
2021040056
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
PAR 1426 –Emissions from Metal Finishing Operations, PAR 1469 –Hexavalent Chromium Emissions from Chromium Electroplating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Operations
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/2/2021
Document Description
South Coast AQMD is proposing amendments to Rule 1426 to reduce fugitive emissions of hexavalent chromium, nickel, cadmium, and lead from metal finishing facilities that have tanks containing one or more of these metals by establishing building enclosure requirements to prevent emissions due to cross drafts; and housekeeping requirements and best management practices to minimize or prevent the accumulation of metal toxic air contaminants from tank solutions on surfaces as a result of spills, splashes, drips and dragout. Due to the relatively low health risks, copper is proposed to be removed from Rule 1426 requirements. In order to prevent duplicative requirements as well as streamline implementation, Rule 1426 amendments which are applicable to facilities with hexavalent chromium tanks subject to Rule 1469 have been incorporated into Proposed Amended Rule 1469. Other amendments to Rule 1469 are proposed to remove a reference to a chemical that is no longer used for testing high efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) filters and to update a table reference. Clarifying updates to definitions, recordkeeping, reporting, and exemptions in both Rules 1426 and 1469 are also proposed.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Ni
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Information
The proposed project is located within the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction, which includes the four-county South Coast Air Basin (all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties), and the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin and the non-Palo Verde, Riverside County portion of the Mojave Desert Air Basin.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to: 1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) – General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and 2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 – Review for Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. The only physical modifications that may occur as a result of the proposed project are associated with implementing the building enclosure requirements, which may be achieved without involving construction or via minimal construction activities, depending on the affected facility. Further, the removal of copper metal finishing tanks and operations from Rule 1426 is expected to have no adverse effect on the environment. Compared to hexavalent chromium, nickel, cadmium or lead, copper has only acute non-cancer health effects at a higher relative concentration and the fugitive emissions of copper from these operations are not anticipated to cause acute health effects. For these reasons, it can be seen with certainty that implementing the proposed project would not cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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